What are reasons to use a ViewModel?

A ViewModel is a crucial component when developing Android applications, especially for managing UI-related data in a lifecycle-conscious way. One key reason to use a ViewModel is that it can hold and manage UI-related data that needs to survive configuration changes such as screen rotations. This means that when an orientation change occurs, the data in the ViewModel is retained, allowing for a smoother user experience without needing to reload data.

Additionally, a ViewModel allows for a clean separation of UI update code from business logic. It helps in organizing code by keeping data and its business logic in one place, while the UI can simply observe the data and update based on changes. This separation adheres to the principles of the MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) architecture, promoting maintainability and testability.

Although a ViewModel does not prevent automatic UI updates, it ensures that the UI can react to changes in the underlying data model, which is a critical aspect of modern app development.

Thus, the reasons for using a ViewModel encompass its ability to retain data through configuration changes and its role in separating business logic from UI code. These characteristics prioritize a better architecture and user experience in Android applications.